Saturday, March 05, 2011

Spring Movie Preview, Part 3

Movie: The Lincoln Lawyer (Brad Furman)High-Concept Synopsis: Matthew McConaughey plays a slick defense attorney who operates out of Lincoln Town Car, if that's not goddamn ridiculous enough for you. Somehow, rich-boy Ryan Phillippe's case takes him through the looking glass.Who Will Be Seeing It: Fans of the lesser John Grisham movies (yes it's based on a Michael Connelly book, but my point remains). Fans of the serious work of Matthew McConaughey (you know, Amistad, We Are Marshall, classics like that). Fans of the actually un-shabby supporting cast (Marisa Tomei, Josh Lucas, William H. Macy, Bryan Cranston, Michael PeñaWho Won't Be Seeing It: John Grisham fans who are quite offended that I conflated his worth with Michael Connelly's up there. People who barely want to watch McConaughey in comedies anymore, much less dramas. Folks who hold a grudge against screenwriter John Romano for his story credit on the worst Coen Brothers movie ever, Intolerable Cruelty.Why I'd See It: I have to admit, I can't see too many circumstances where I would. This feels like a movie that should have been made 15 years ago, and it probably wouldn't have been very inspired then either. March 18

Movie: Limitless (Neil Burger)High-Concept Synopsis: Grubby, lazy writer Bradley Cooper comes across an experimental drug that makes him otherworldly smart and cunning. It makes his life awesome, but it also sets shadowy businessman Robert DeNiro on his tail.Who Will Be Seeing It: People eager to see Bradley Cooper get the chance to carry his own movie for a change. People who were impressed by director Burger on The Lucky Ones. Shabby writers looking to live vicariously through Cooper's hyper-productive fantasia.Who Won't Be Seeing It: People who find Cooper's screen persona hopelessly smug and unrelatable. People who were less impressed by Neil Burger's direction on the barely-seen The Lucky Ones. People who have honestly forgotten why Robert DeNiro was ever considered a national acting treasure.Why I'd See It: I hope for the best for Bradley Cooper, even when he's being bearded by Renee Zellweger. I think the shlubby-to-suave character here fits in his wheelhouse while also not just being a movie where he's allowed to smirk his way through the whole thing like The Hangover or The A-Team. And I still say Neil Burger has promise as a director. Let's see how he does with this. March 18

Movie: Paul (Greg Mottola)High-Concept Synopsis: The guys from Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz come across a cartoony alien guy in the American desert. He's voiced by Seth Rogen, which tells you everything you need to know about this movie.Who Will Be Seeing It: Fans of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's shlubby British charm. Fans of Greg Mottola's last two pretty excellent movies, Superbad and Adventureland. Fans of the long, proud history of aliens-among-us comedy, from ALF to I Love Lucy.Who Won't Be Seeing It: Edgar Wright partisans (if they're not too busy watching their Scott Pilgrim DVDs for the 800th time), who refuse to believe Pegg and Frost can be funny without his guiding hand. People who are maybe weary of Seth Rogen bringing his dumb stoner persona to yet another genre. People who are pissed that Sigourney Weaver got aced out of the trailer.Why I'd See It: I guess technically Pegg and Frost play different characters in all their movies, but really it's just always Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Which is fine with me. I think the bigger draw for me is Mottola, to be honest. I'm really interested to see how he follows up Adventureland. March 18

Movie: Win Win (Thomas McCarthy)High-Concept Synopsis:Paul Giamatti is a sad-sack everyman (stay with me here...) who moonlights as a high-school wrestling coach and comes across a pale-faced prodigy who somehow gives his life meaning. Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, and Melanie Lynskey co-star.Who Will Be Seeing It:People who look past the general trite-ness of the plot and see that McCarthy (The Station Agent, The Visitor) as well as this cast are capable of something great. Anyone who followed the generally great buzz this got at Sundance last month. High-school wrestlers looking for THEIR Hoosiers, THEIR Karate Kid. Melanie Lynskey fans excited that she's got a seemingly substantial role.Who Won't Be Seeing It: People who don't look one inch past the general trite-ness of the plot. Audiences turned away by the sheer pastiness of the two male leads. People who have maybe had their fill of McCarthy's cinematic loneliness.Why I'd See It:The general concept wasn't lighting my world on fire, but the great Sundance reviews, as well as promising trailer, have put this solidly on my radar. March 18

Movie: Sucker Punch (Zack Snyder)High-Concept Synopsis: The Zack Snyder-fication of the age-old tale of young girl (Emily Browning) terrorized by her awful family, institutionalized and escapes via the power of her ultraviolent imagination. Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, and Carla Gugino co-star.Who Will Be Seeing It: Fans of Snyder's signature style (i.e. slo-mo action, ridiculous and revealing costumes, CGI everything), especially as this looks increasingly like 300 (Teenage Girls). People who have been waiting for Emily Browning to get another shot at something interesting since Lemony Snicket. Fans of Carla Gugino's RIDICULOUS Jolie-ish accent work, as heard in the trailer.Who Won't Be Seeing It: Non-fans of girlie violence. People who have given up on Snyder delivering on the promise he showed in Dawn of the Dead. Audiences who detect more than a bit of prurient grossness in this story of sexy schoolgirl dream warriors.Why I'd See It: I'm torn. It certainly looks different enough that it's worth a look, but this feels like Zack Snyder traveling directly up his own butthole, and increasingly, his butthole looks more and more like the butthole of the nerd who drew cartoons of topless women on his notebooks in school. March 25

Movie: Source Code (Duncan Jones)High-Concept Synopsis: Jake Gyllenhaal plays a soldier sent back in time to try and stop a train bombing ... as many times as necessary to get it right. Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, and Jeffrey Wright co-star.Who Will Be Seeing It: Fans of director Jones, who brought such a singular vision to 2009's Moon. Fans of thinky sci-fi adventure. Fans of the excellent cast, including Jake, who hasn't been in a good movie in a while and could use one.Who Won't Be Seeing It: People who don't so much see Gyllenhaal as struggling against bad material as contributing to bad material. People bummed to see Duncan Jones going so mainstream so fast. People disappointed that, after Up in the Air, Vera Farmiga gets stuck behind not only a desk but buttoned up under a military uniform.Why I'd See It: Jake. Vera. Jeffrey Wright. The guy who made Moon. I can't think of a single reason why I wouldn't meet this movie at a sprint. April 1

Movie: Super (James Gunn)High-Concept Synopsis: The latest in the post-modern "regular guy tries to be a superhero, to darkly comic results" subgenre. Rainn Wilson stars as the wannabe, with Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, and Kevin Bacon lending support.Who Will Be Seeing It: People who have enjoyed the "regular guy tries to be a superhero, to darkly comic results" subgenre. People who have been waiting for Rainn Wilson to indulge in Dwight Shrute's more vigilante tendencies. People who dig Gunn's ultra-dark take on indie genre comedy.Who Won't Be Seeing It: People who got enough of oh-so-dark comedy in the guise of superheroes with Kick-Ass. Linda Cardellini fans irate at the career she should have gotten who can't bear to watch her billed so far below Ellen Page, who basically has the career she should have. Jenna Fischer fans who refuse to watch any movie directed by her ex-husband and starring her onscreen tormentor.Why I'd See It: Eh. The reviews out of Sundance were actually really strong, but I find Wilson off-putting and I've never warmed to Gunn either. Oh, and I seriously hated Kick-Ass. April 1

Movie: Insidious (James Wan)High-Concept Synopsis: The director of all those Saw movies puts the torture porn away for a while in favor of a good, old-fashioned haunted-house story. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne play the parents of one seriously disturbed child, and the scares appear to lurk behind every corner.Who Will Be Seeing It: Suckers for the Poltergeist/Amityville school of horror. People following the good critical buzz out of Toronto. People who like to see happy suburban families terrorized.Who Won't Be Seeing It: People who were burned by too many of the Saw movies and now hold an understandable grudge. Or, the other side of the coin, people who really love the Saw movies and are now disappointed to see Wan step out of his wheelhouse.Why I'd See It: I've heard good things. Very good things. April 1..

I saw "Limitless" in the theaters and was amazed for the reason that I guess I didn't have high expectation for this one. I like films with smart leading actor and Cooper does a great job representing the character in all his states. In spite of his flaws, the story drags you in, and you'll be concerned about Bradley's character. This is necessary for a film to be excellent, and "Limitless" succeed in that.

Recently Viewed

Mission: Impossible - Ghost ProtocolThis was deeply stupid but a LOT of fun. It made me forget how creeped out I am by Tom Cruise, it nailed set piece after set piece, and it took the "A Really Great Episode of Alias" level of M:I 3 to the next step of being "A Really Great Alias Movie." In a year when so many movies just would not stop telling us about the magic of the movies and how films could let us see the impossible, Brad Bird stepped up to the plate and actually showed us. That sequence in Dubai is going to be tough for action movies to top for a long while. And I would honestly nominate it for Costume Design because every single person in that cast looked the most fuckable they ever have, and that's saying something. Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton, nice work. B / B+

The Girl with the Dragon TattooZodiac meets Seven without the latter's audacity nor the former's studiousness. OR ... the best season of The Killing ever. As a story, it's a smidge too obvious, and I seriously do think it's episodic enough to have been made into a TV series. And I don't want to get into a Gender Studies thing about Lisbeth -- and I could totally entertain ideas to the contrary -- but to me she was pure male fantasy, if a particularly badass male fantasy. Viewed in that light, the rape scene is less bracingly necessary than luridly opportunistic. But I'm not trying to say I was deeply offended by the movie or anything. It's a fun procedural with compelling actors in the lead roles (how does Daniel Craig's insane sexiness continue to sneak up on me?). Obvious casting in the supporting roles is a drawback, but overall, it was far easier for me to look past the story and appreciate Fincher's frigid aesthetics (that ever-present howling wind!) here than it was in The Social Network. B-

MargaretHere's where 2012 Joe apologizes to 2006 Joe, because I know how frustrating it is to live in the parts of America that just don't get limited-release indie movies that we get in New York. Because I complained and complained about not getting to see Margaret, and ultimately, it was put back into theaters and I got to take advantage of my incredibly fortunate geography to see it. Of course, after weeks and weeks of #teamMargaret, I was worried I'd been oversold on the movie, that I would walk out not getting what all the fuss was about. I'm happy to say I DO get what the fuss was about. It's not a perfect movie, but it packs a punch. The moment that drives the film -- a first-act bus accident that costs Allison Janney her life -- is legitimately harrowing, and it makes total sense that this would be traumatic enough to drive the plot of this sprawling tale (and to stand in for 9/11 when the movie's allegorical needs make it necessary). Anna Paquin's performance as a girl whose self-centeredness is almost feral is a marvel (and it connects a lot of dots for the way she's been playing Sookie on True Blood, to be honest). And the supporting cast is full of great performances and teen actors who would go on to become A Thing in the five years since this movie was made. Believe the hype about Jeannie Berlin's performance, too. She doesn't show up until halfway through, but her every line reading (which range from hilarious to scathing) is a winner, and she and Paquin make for one of the more fascinating screen duos in recent history. Lonergan has significant pacing issues in the latter half -- and my ass he couldn't find any scenes to cut; there are whole subplots and characters (Jean Reno; Matt Damon) who could have been trimmed and/or set aside for a director's cut -- but the script and the actors rarely step wrong. Here is a movie that bites off a lot of big ideas, about responsibility, about the limits of hanging meaning on the meaningless, and how Upper West Side teens can be just as monstrous and insufferable as their east-side counterparts. Also, if every five years we could get a new movie starring the 2005 version of Matt Damon, that would be just fine. Yum. B+

PariahThere's going to be a danger of overpraising this low-budget indie for being a low-budget indie, and for being about the kinds of characters and environments you don't usually get, even in low-budget indies. When it comes to black, teenage lesbians in lower-middle-class families in non-hipster Brooklyn, we're not exactly spoiled for choice, so for that alone, Pariah SHOULD be celebrated. And it's a very good movie, on its own terms. Adpero Oduye makes for a magnetic and fascinating lead, and the movie lets her life be about a lot of different things at once. Teen movies have a particular tendency to reduce their characters' pressures to just one thing, but Oduye has to deal with coming out and fears over her parents' crumbling marriage, and strained best-friend relationships, and a lot more. It's not a perfect movie -- some of the dialogue feels heavy and scripted, and I don't think Kim Wayans is all that great as the mom. But overall, it's really solid (and not nearly the suffocating bummer I've heard it described as). B

ShameIt's maybe ever-so-slightly more an acting showcase for Michael Fassbender than a cinematic masterpiece, but who's going to complain about settling for very, very good? McQueen digs deep into Fassbender's sex addict character in a way that's explicit but not salacious, and ultimately the joke's on us, because he really puts us into the mindset of a tormented guy unable to forge any kind of human connections. It's quite something. I could go on for about 10 more lines worth of prurient concerns (honestly, Fassbender is 30% penis by volume, I'd swear to it), and one fairly story-based quibble (McQueen really pusses out at the gay club), but for the most part, it's a total must-see. B+

The Week in TV:

Fringe (5/6)I have to say, this left me largely unsatisfied. Not the part about Peter at the end -- I'm confident that's going to get resolved in a way that'll open up season 4 in a big way. But that's actually part of my real problem: this whole episode didn't feel like a conclusion to everything Season 3 has built to but rather a beginning for the next arc. But without satisfyingly resolving what had been built up this season. Like we got an epilogue and a springboard into the next chapter without the actual climax. So much of this episode was spent trying to unbox everything we were presented in the flash-forward that by the time the actual action went down, we had less than 10 minutes to advance the plot in any real way. Still love the show, still think Anna Torv has had a breakthrough season, but this was a definite letdown.

Parks and Recreation (5/5)How does this show do it? What for all intents and purposes seemed like a purely goofy, guest-star-driven episode with Parker Posey as Leslie's rich-town nemesis (with a b-story about Ron Swanson desperately trying to avoid a birthday celebration in his honor) managed to arrive at no fewer than three emotional high-points. Not one of them felt like cheap sentiment, either, they were completely earned and true to the characters. That Leslie/Ron birthday scene was set up so slyly, it was like the twist ending of a thriller. This is what a show can do when it's built on such a strong foundation of characters. Well fucking done.

30 Rock (5/5)What a weird episode, with a random Kenneth moment at the end that I'd almost buy as an actual plot point considering how well it's supported by several seasons of "Kenneth is ageless" jokes. Liz being tormented by Tracy was funny, if honestly sad, and Jenna works best when opposite Will Forte. But really, this was all about Victor Garber, for me. Kudos to the show for nabbing such a great guest star for such a fun role -- I don't know why "wool" is so comedy-friendly a concept, but it just is. It's very wool.RuPaul's Drag Race (5/2)Not as explosive as past seasons' reunions -- the Shangela-Raven feud seems to be at least nominally active, but neither seemed all that invested in propagating it. ...Well, Shangela was, kind of. But besides one more tired rehash of the Heather vs. Boogers battle (my stance: the Heathers were throwing shade like good queens should; the Boogers took it personally because they're insecure and not seasoned; advantage: Heathers), and Alexis Mateo made a lame attempt to shame Michelle Visage for actually judging her, but mostly it was just a rehash of the season's big moments. The big story for me was confirmation that my love for Mariah was not misguided. She may have been eliminated for fully supportable reasons (she didn't have the chops when it came to performance), but she showed up with a killer face and a sparkling attitude. See you on Drag U, girl!

Game of Thrones (5/1)Damn it, Game of Thrones! You got me hooked last week with that sweet scene of Jon Snow gifting his lil' sister with a sword. Why won't you just let me love you?? This week's episode took two steps forward (Catelyn continues to be a character worth cheering for; Jaime Lannister suddenly has layers beyond the clichéd sister-fucking), but then two steps back with even more tedious political hoo-ha, more indistinguishable characters, and more of Joffrey and Vinerys, possibly the most one-dimensional characters on television. On the bright side, I really think that child-bride sex slave and her hulking rape-monster of a husband are gonna make it!